Apparatus for and method of gauging and sampling



June 3, 194.1 v. 1. HooPER vETAL 2,243,847

APPARATUS FOR AND MTHOD OF GAUG'ING AND SAMPLING F11ed Jan. 9, 1959 4 sheets-sheet 1 g Hgh! June 3, 1941 v. l. HooPr-:R l-:rAL u 2,243,847

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OFGAUGING AND SAMPLING `Filed Jan. 9, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 3, 1941. -'v, l, HOQPER AL 2,243,847

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF GAUGING AND SAMPLING Filed Jan. 9, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [05u25 @JKM/Ue?" UNITED srA'r Virgil I. Hooper, Gordom-Tex., and Louis G.

with

Hooper, Shreve l10n-tion of Illinois port, La

Bastian-Blessing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corors to The Application January 9, i1939, Serial No. 250,056

f 156mm. Our invention relates .to a'valve assembly for handling liquids, gases or mixed liquids and gases. One purpose is( the provision of an improved valve assembly and method for gauging,

testing and-sampling such materials as they are loaded and unloaded. `and vat any time desired, and for loading and unloading them into tanks, cars andsthe like. u

Another purpose is the provision of improved means for sampling or gauging the contents of al tank or closed space or stored body of liquicl` or the like;

Another purpose is the provision'of v'an improved 'method and means "fon maintaining the interior oi a tank or storage or shipping container for liquids, gases and the like closed to the atmosphere during gauging and sampling.

and, in' particular, during the application to a tank or removal therefrom of a removable gauging or sampling assembly.

elevation illustrating a thermometer and clippery attachment for the gauge;

- Figure is a transverse sectional detail at line it-iil ofFigure 9:

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional detail taken at line I l-I i o f Figure 9. Y

taken Like parts are indicated vby like symbols throughout the speciication and drawings.

While we are illustrating our invention as applied in connection with a tank car, which isa practical application thereof, it will beunderstood that it applies equally weil\to other storage or shipping spaces such as tanks onsteamers. fixed storage systems. underground gas storage and'dispensing systems and the like. How-- ever, we' ilnd4 it convenient to illustrate our in- Another purpose is the provision of improved means and methods of gauging or sampling the contents of a tankor closed space/which is in-4 dependent of the existence of a head of pressure within such tank or space Another purpose is the provlsionaof an improved means of controlling gas pressure during loading or unloading of' such materials, and during sampling, gauging or testing.

Other purposes will appear from time to time V in the course oi' the specication and claims.

We illustrate our invention more vor less diagrammaticallyl in wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation with parts broken away, illustrating the application oi' our invention to a tank car: 1 1

4 Figure 2 is a vertical, longitudinal sectio through the dome of a 'tank car illustrating -nt- 4 tings and closuresl in .place and in closed'posi- Figure 3 is a vertical section through the ilt- `tings applied to the vent of a tank car;

Figure 4 illustrates the upper portion of the vent assembly with the closure-removing means removed and with a 'gauging and sampling assembly substituted;

Figure 5 illustrates the gauging and sampling .assembly with the gaugingcpumpvv omitted;

yFlgureisadetail; i

Figure 'I is a vertical sectionthrough la variant venting assembly:

Figure 8 is 'a detailt f Figure 9 is a vertical, section with parts in the accompanying drawings.

vention in connection with tank cars; and its :application to j tank cars will be understood to be a matter of illustration and not limitation.

Referring tof the drawings, and nrst'to Figure l, I indicates any suitable tank herein shown as forming part of a tank car. structure. l is a tank car dome having a removable cover plate l, ynormally held in position by aany suitable nuts and bolts 1, i. It will be understood that any other suitable! securing means might be employevrl.v Referring to Figure 1. we illustrate a loading and unloading assembly generally indi' ycated as A: anda gauging and sampling-andv venting assembly generally indicated as B. The' assembly A does not of itself form part of the present invention and is described and claimed in a co-pending application; but it will be cursorilydescribed herewith.

' Referring to. assembly A,4 il indicates an eduction pipe which may terminate closely adjacent `the bottom of the tank l. shown as screwthreaded or otherwise vsecured to the flange IB. which is secured. to the inner surface of the top of thedome in line with the loading and unload- A ing aperture it. Preferably, they eduction pipe -ii is provided with any suitable excess-pressure valve, as indicated at Ila in Figure 1. The details of-the valve do not of themselves form part of'tlie present invention: but it is valuable to have such a valve lo thatin the event the valve assembly is prematurely removedor is broken oil' by accident or is put. in communication with` the atmosphere, the excess-.pressure valve ila will function to prevent escape of liquids from the tank I.

Aligned above the aperture Il is a flange mem- -ber i1 in which is positioned a iltting il, the

. interior of which receives any suitable removable V closure "member: for example, a screwl its ac be understood that this stem may be employed to move the screw-threaded closure 24 to open position. 36 is a side passagein communicationA with the passage member 33, 35. It may beloontrailed bya valve assembly 38 in communication with any suitable loading or unloading hose /5I. Any suitable additional venting means 4| may be employed.

Referring to the sampling, gauging and ventL ing assembly whichiorms the subject matter of.

- the present application, 60 indicates a tlange or passage memberK which may be secured to or may be formed integrally with the dome `5 or the dome closure plate 6. We illustrate, as secured to the member 60,. a fitting generally indicated as 6|. threaded as at 63 to thread with the inner face :of the member 60. 'Ihe passage 64 is also inwardly ,screw-threaded as at 65 to receive the screw-threaded portion of, a plug 66 having an enlarged upper portion 61 and a shoulder -68 shown in sealing relationship with the gasket 69 onthe sealing surface 10. The gasket 69 may be received in a recess 69a o; the plug 66, whereby it is removed upwardly with plug when the plug is` moved upwardly away from. the seat 10. J 1 f 'I'he member 6| has an upper portion 1|, oi eni larged diameter, which is inwardly screw-thread,-

ed as at 12 in order to receive the exterior screw threads'of a wing' nut 13, herein shown as employed to lock in position the passage member 14 with its bottom flange 15, against whiclrthe lower edge of the wing nut abuts.

therein the gate valve member 11 controlled by an exterior handle 18. y valve as a practical valve but any other suitable valve might be employed, the purpose being to provide means for closing the top of the passage 14 and for thus maintaining a closure for the tank as a whole when the plug66 lsremoved.A

i 65 and having an exterior control handle .86.v Preferably, the passage outlet 84 is of relatively restricted diameter. As shown inl Figure 1, we may employ a pressure relief valve 82a of any suitable type and. in that event, may leave the valve 62 open. 'I'he result will be that gases within the tank will be prevented from escaping along the hose 6ta oi Figure i. unless, and until, a suicient pressure is built up to open the valve 622 and to permitthe gasesito exhaust.v They may bedrawn ofi into any suitable storage zone or used for fue'if or otherwise disposed of, but, preferably, are not exhausted to the atmosphere or wasted. When the pressure drops, the valve 62a will close and. will We illustrate the gate' It has Va lowerportion 62 screw- 'I'he portion 15 40 may abut against an outer gasket 66h; shown as seated on the surface 10.- The upper portion of the passage member 14'is shownA as supporting or in communication with a valve housing 16 having maintain a predeterminedgas pressure within the tank during loading or unloading; .This is of particular advantage in loading as it prevents the escape of the lighter `ends and maintains the volatility of the gasoline, when gasoline is ,being loaded.

It will be understood that the particular structure of valves and passages herein shown is merely illustrative and is, in a broad sense, diagrammatic What We wish toprovide is a chamber or shown, we provide the screw-threaded plug 66v and means for unscrewing it whilethe vent assembly above described is in position and is isolated from the atmosphere and from' the restl of the system. .We may employ, for example, the stem 60, which is slidable and rotatable in the ,block orend member 8| and has a squared end 9|, which penetrates the corresponding aperture 92 in the plug 66. As a practical means for perymitting upward removal of lthe plug 66 when it is unscrewed, we provide the spring-loaded balls 63, which penetrate a recess 94 within the plug4 66, whereby, when .the stem 90 is withdrawn to upward position 'after the plig is unscrewed. thevplug 66 will also beupwardly withdrawn. The abutment 91 limits the upward movement of the stem in relation to the block 0|'but permits it to be drawn sufciently upwardly to permit the bottom of the plug 66 to clear the v'alve 11, whereby, after the plug is released and upwardly withdrawn, the operator can actu ate the handle 18 and close the gate valve and-thus, close the interior of the tank.

Assuming that the voperator has released the plug 66 and has withdrawn'it to upward position and has closed the valve 11, he canthen remove the block 8|', for example, by unscrewing it, and can then .upwardly remove the stem 90 with its handle 98 and attached plug 66. He can then l insert the gauging and sampling assembly shown in detail in ligures4 and 5. He may screw the block or plug |00 into the place previously oc- -cupied by the block or plug 8|. Upwardly extending from the plug |00 is the tting |0I, which has an upward flange |02, ,which may serve as a gauge-reading point as indicated at X. The cal-y lwhich may be provided with any suitable cali-- brations 666m inches or other units. .any suitable enlargement 666 at the bottom ci Ythe tube 966 limits its upward withdrawal through the plug Miti. if desired, the member 666 may be .re--

moved and any suitable excess-now valve may be applied, as shown in Figure 6. It may include a vaivehousiag ist, a bau los sae a pin its to! prevent the Vdownward escape ci the ball. It will be understood that when excess gas pressure Vprevent further gas flow. Thus, it ispossible. to flows, it will be eiective to lock the bail |65 :against the bottom ofthe passage |04 or against the upper end or taper lof the aperture of the member |01.

Secured to the top of the gauge tube |04 is a fitting ||0, having an upper enlargement` interiorly screw-threaded as at ||2. In Figure 5, we illustrate as screw-threaded into it a ventplug assembly ||3, which includes an outlet passage or vent 4 and a valve'- I5 to control it, having an exterior control handle IIS. The

' systems or in handling materials where pressure exists, or is maintained in the tank. Where pressure is not maintained or does not exist within thel tank, for example, where gauging threaded intc'a flange |5|.

. Referring to Figure s, 1t wmte understood that A|21 and about the valve |28.

liquids which do not. causeor are not accompanied -by gas pressures; weJ may apply a pump assembly to the gauging and sampling tube |04. In that case, the assembly||3 is removed and a pump body |20 is applied. It is shown as including a screw-threaded portion |2| in screwthreadedlrelationship with the threads ||-2 of the member I I I. |22 indicates anysuitable pump cylinder in which is contained a pump piston |23,'whlch may bereciprocated as by the stem |24, controlled by the exterior handle |25, passing through the cylinder end |26.

When the piston |23 is upwardlywithdrawn, liquid will pass upwardly through the passage4 n y On the down stroke, the lball valve |20 is locked `in` closing position by pressure, and the uid is driven by the compression of the pump against and around the spring-loaded `ball valve |29. |30 is an inwardly screw-threaded sleeve in the inner end ofv which we show a loading disc |3|, which holds the spring |32 against .the ball |29. The projection or abutment |33 limits the outward escape. of the ball against the spring in response to thee thrust ofthe pump. Then, if desired, the assembly H3, shown in Figure 5 and earlier described, is screw-threaded into the member |80, as shown in Figure 4. f

- Referring to Figures 7 and 8, we' illustrate a variant forml of structure. A nipple |50 extends upwardly from the dome 5l and may be screwd |52 is any suitable valve housing having a valve |53, therein shown as controlled by the exterior handle |54. Where- .as we have illustrated a turn cock, 'it will be.'

understood that any other suitable valve type may be employed. The valve housing 'has an u-pper aperture surrounded by a. iiange |55,'in wardly screw-threaded as at |56 to receivej the passage member |10 havinga sidey passage |1|, a.v

vent passage |12 controlled by a valve |12a and `an upward extension |13, hereinshownfas extending above said lside passage member and vent. The side passage member |'I| may be controlled by any suitable valve |14 in a hos- Ing |15, whereby the interior' ofv the passage Mounted in. the upper end of the member |113 is a packing gland comprising a screw-threaded nut or blockv |11,- in which .is screw-threaded the member |10, which surrounds the packing |19. Through it maypass the gaugetube |04 with its exterior calibrations |05.

the nipple |50, when the passage member |10 is removed, may be closed byhaving the valve- |50 turned to closed position. The. valve |53 thus, remains on the car or tank and is not, of itself, part of the removable assembly. An ad-` ditional closure may be employed in the shape of`the screw-threadedplug |00, which is rel .ceived in thethrads |56 of the valve housing In Figures 9; 10 and l1, there is shown a modied construction of the slip tube, in which a thermometer and a dipper are provided. It is frequently very important to determine the contents of a tank or oi a container. rThis is particularlytrue in connection with the shipping of volatile liquids in tank cars and tank trucksv where the amount of liquid may vary greatly, depending up'on the temperature. If the liquid is shipped and measured in relatively cool condi-x the gauge tube, when free to do so; or Where there is `no pressure, it may be drawn up by the pump mechanism shown. It is, also, sometimes desirable to dip a certain quantity of the liquid `bodily out; land where a. thermometer is used, it is particularly desirable to bring up a.I

certain quantity of the liquid and to h`old that quantity about the thermometer so that the thermometer will continue in the .same temperature.` If the thermometer is merely dipped into the liquid'and then pulled out to a' point where it can beread, it maycool oi substantially. Bringing up the thermometer surrounded by a -body of liquid dipped from the material within the tank avoids cooling or heatingof the thermometer', and tends to hold it at the same -temperature which it reached while in the body of the tank. Thesepurposes are accomplished by the construction of Figures 9, '10 and 11. The thermometer and dipper construction of those figures might be 'applied to the gauge tube as shown in Figures 1 and 4, or it might be applied `there shown comprises an end member 200,

member |10 may Ibe put in communication withV anyI suitable hose or conduit |162 threaded` s at 20| and carrying, if desired, a

washer 200 The member 200 may be grooved,

as at 203, to receive one end of a transparent shell 204, which may be of glass, plastic material or any other desired material. The member 200 is preferably integral with thebody 205 of the inspection housing, which `is split or cut as' at' 205, 205 softhat its contents may be observed. .At lits upper end, the inspectionr housing/is provided with the member 201, interiorly threaded` Aas, at 208, and, in part, surrounding the rupper vend of the transparent tube 204;. A housing bushing 2091s seated in the threading 20a. The imsll-A ing4 is provided with a 'dovvnwardly-depending sectional portion2i0. Packing 2|| is seated between the portion 2|0 and thei portion 201, and the upper end of the transparent melnber 204 is 'I5o recaivedand spaced between these parts.l At its mechanisms illustrated', and the thermometer upper end, the bushing 209 is interlorly threaded to receive a packing nut 2|2, which adjustably holds packing 2|3 in place. A hollow gauge-tube section 2|4 is provided, and it may be identical with, or substantially the same as; the tube |04.

At its lower end, itv is exteriorly threaded and receives a thermometer armor cap 2li, which is provided with a longitudinal hollow or passage 2|0 communicating with a lateral passage y2|v`|. A tube 2|! is threadedly engaged in the c ap ,just mentioned, and at its bottom is closed as at 2|9. It may be cut away to provide slots 220. Within the tube 2|0 is positioned a thermometer tube 22|, which may be cut away as at 222. The tube v22| provides an armor and reenforcement for provided with an enlargement 223 at its upper end, which has a shoulder 224, which shoulder' rests upon the upper end of the tube 2|8. vBythis1 means, the thermometer isl sustained and positioned within suitable reenforcing and protecting means. .e

As shown in Figure 9,'when the. thermometer assembly is to be used, the inspection housing for the thermometer assembly may conveniently be positioned by being substituted for the plug |00, as shown in Figures l and 4f When the plug is4 removed, the threaded portion 20| of the inspection housing is seated in the threaded open end of the member 19, and it,` thus,I provides a cient breadth to include the formation of a pasthe thermometer 225. As shown, the tube 22| is housing extending above the member 10. Be"

cause of the transparent wall member 204 and the openings or slots 206, the contents of the housing may be observed. When the ,slip-tube gauge is pushed down, theI numerals or other markings on the gauge can be seen through this transparent housing. After the gauge has been slipped down so that the thermometerhas been affected bythe temperature of the contents of the tank, the y'gauge is raised and the thermometer is brought into position so that it can be seen through the openings 206, and the temperature is thus read.

vWhile, ordinarily, where sampling is desired the material of the sample will either be forced out by pressurewithin the container or withdrawn by the pump assembly lshown in Figures 1 and 4, it/may be desirable to use as a sample the material brought up in the dipper portion of the Y thermometer arrangement of Figure 9. One way to improve this is to close the valve below the thermometer assembly after the latter has been' raised to the position of vFigure 9, and, then, to unscrew the member 200, and tip over the assembly so that the liquid flows out of the clipper portion. In general, therefore, it is within the contemplation of our invention to use the dipper portion of the thermometer device as a sampling means. `Whether this is done or not. an important use oi the dipper portion is, oi' course, to bring up the thermometer, in part, at least, by

' the liquid ln-which it has been immersed soas v to guard against heating of the thermometer afterit leaves the liquid, and to insure asl far as possible that the thermometer remains at the same temperature which it reached while im- 'mersed in the liquid: and, therefore, when withi dome or cover.

' as follows:

-and inspection assembly `might be used in practically any association in which it is desirable to test ,the temperature of the contents of a tank, .and to read that temperature while the tank and associated parts all remain closed to the exterior.

It will be Irealized that where in the specification and claims we use'the term passage ltting or passage fitting associated with the tank, we wish these terms to be interpreted with sutilsage integral with the tank or-integral with the dome cover or cover plate, it being a matter of choice as to whether or not such a itting or its equivalent be made removable or be separately formed and thereafter applied permanently to the tank, or if it be formed as part of the tank,

Where in the specification and claims we describe the plug or closure as screw-threaded, it Y willvbe understood that we wish such term to be -interpreted with -sufficient breadth to cover any locking arrangement whereby the plug or closure is-locked or unlocked in response to rotation thereof. For example, it will be understood that Where we employ an externally screw-threaded wing nut 13 in connection with an internally screw-threaded fitting S|,' the relation of the..

parts may be reversedand-the wing nut and the housing 14 may engage the 'exterior rather than the interior of the tting ange.

'It will berealized that whereas we have described and illustrated a practical 'and operative method and device, nevertheless, many changes ,may be made in the size, shape, number and dis- Aposition of parts and in the steps of the method disclosed without departing from the spirit of our invention. We, therefore, wish our description and drawings to be taken as, in a broad sense,

"illustrative'or diagrammatic, rather than as limitlng us to our precise showing.

` The use and operation of thisinvention are An important purpose of our invention is Ato avoid the enormous losses which take place in the current handling of volatlleliquids such as gasol nes, casing-head gasolenes' and the like,

which are prevailingly shipped in insulated convolatile liquids from point to point, but/for fixed drawn to the observati0n p0sitlon gives an ac- -curate reading voi the ltemperature of the main body of liquid within vthe container. A,

The thermometer and inspection assembly may be used as indicated or may be used otherwise; and this phase of our invention ls not limited to the particular association shown with the other or buried storage systems from which liquids or gases are thereafter dispensedor used. llit may be \used in conn-ection with buried butane or propane systems used for house heating, cooking or, the like. v

A practical advantage of our loading assembly is that it 4can be applied to and used `in .connection with existingequipment, such as tanks, tank trucks and tank cars, withoutl any-'substantial modification of the present structuresand with-'- out the necessity of applying new and expensive equipment to tanks, tank cars and the like. `A

1 further-advantage is thatour removable valve and gauge assembly or assemblies can be kept-at to or removed from nxed tanks, whereby a given assembly or group of assemblies may beemployed in connection with a large number of different cars, tanks or the like; We can readily adapt existing cars or tanks to our invention by applying to them the preferably removable and semi-fixed ntting Il, I2 with the closure plug 88 and the` guter cover 28. Thus, only inexpensive elements are applied to or are moved with or are installed on the tank cars or tanks while the more expensive and delicate' valve assemblies such as are,

. s 2,243,847 loading or unloading points, and may be carried shown at A in Figure 1 may be applied to the tank or car at the time of loading or unloa ng and may be removed when the loading or unloading operation is completed, and may be stored that a large numberJ of cars can be handled` by the employment of a small number of loading, unloading, gauging, sampling or testing assemblies or units.

In handling volatile liquids and, particularly, inflammable liquids, the prevention vof any substantialexhaustion to the atmosphere results in an enormous saving of the substances handled. It.' also, greatly increases safety, sin'ce it prevents the exhaustion tothe atmosphere of the large quantities of inflammable gases ,which are released in/current practice. A further advantage is the great saving in time.

As an example loithe problem faced during the loading and transit of casing-head gasoline, a considerable portion of the gasoline is driven into vapor so that when the tank .c ar arrives at its destination a very substantial pressure has been built up inthe tank. Prevailingly, in the present practice, the closurecap is removed and valve assembly. A partial llist of substances which can advantageously be handled for loading, shipping, gauging, testing, samplingy and Aunloading includes gasoline, propane, butane, crude 'oil, Ilubricating oil, alcohols, volatile solvents, acids, malodorants, poison gases, chlorine gas and liquefled gases in general.

We claim: l. Thelmethod of. gauging the contents of a tank, which includes removably positioning a housing adjacent an opening in said ltank While said opening is closed by a closuref'temporarily ilxing said housing in relation to said tank and in sealed relation to said opening, removingrsaid `closure through said housing and thereby putting the interior of said tank'fthereafter into communication with the interior of said housing, and thereafter gauging or samplingthe contents of said tank through said housing while maintaining said housing closedto the atmosphere.

2. A method of loading a tank with a liquid,

which includes the following steps: applying re.

movable valve assemblies to the inlet and vent f teriors of the valve assemblies in communication theV gaseous contents under pressure are simply.

wasted 4to the atmosphere.- This venting has to be permittedsince, otherwise, it would be dangerous 'for the operator to remove the dome cover 6, and it is carried out even where the tank is opened merely for gauging or testing, and`not specifically for emptying. Some Ears are even provided with a safety cover which prevents their removal until this pressure is vented off. This venting may require several hours,'which involves a substantial loss of time; The presence of the vapor in the atmosphere, is ahazard since a spark from a passing locomotive may ignite the vapor. As va"matter of factlmany lives have been lost fromfthis cause;

Also, the wastage of'mateigial is great. Int/hot weather, cases are iknown where as muchas 3,000

gallons of gasoline have been wasted from atenthousand gallon load. 'I'he wastage is seldom -less than300 .gal1ons per load, even in cold weather. This involves not merely,y a money loss to -the shipper but a waste of a hunted natural; resource; and under present practice with present methods and apparatus, it occurswhenever a full tank is opened for any purpose, whether it be tounload,

to gauge, to test, to sample or for anyotherpurereas this invention is particularly applicable to and valuable with the handling of -volatile i and inammable liquids, it lends itself to the economical handling of a ywide variety of liquids, both where pressure is present and where pressure lsabsent. Lubricating oils, for example, may

i thereafter removingthe valve assemblies.

apertures of a tank while said inlet andvent apertures are closed, thereafter putting theinthe valve assembly and the tank closed to the atmosphere; terminating the liquid delivery when the gauge pwage with its bottom set at the desired top level of the liquid passes liquid; removing the gauge passage, while keeping the interior of the tank closed to the atmosphere; closing the inlet and vent apertures, while maintaining the interior of the valve assemblies closed to the atmosphere; and thereafter removing the valve assemblies.

3.. A method of loading a tank with a liquid, which includes the following steps: applying removable valve assemblies to the inlet and vent apertures of a tank, while said inlet and vent` apertures are closed; thereafter putting the in-y teriors of the valve assemblies in communication with the interior of the tank; inserting a vgauge passage member through the vent aperture and be efiiciently handled through our removable its associated valve assembly, while maintainingthe interior of the tank closed to the atmosphere;

through Athe inlet aperture and its associated valve assemby, while maintaining the interior'of delivering a liquid to die interiorr of che tankthe valve vassembly and the tank closed to thel atmosphere; lterminating the liquidl delivery when the gauge passagewith its bottoni set at the de-l sired top level of the liquid passes liquid; removing the gauge passage while keeping the interior of the tank closed to the atmosphere; closing the inletand vent apertures while maintaining the interior' of the valve assemblies closed to the,

atmosphere; venting`said valve assemblies; and

4. In a removable valve assembly for tanks and the like, `a passage member andmeans for rempvably sealing'it in relation to an aperture of a tank while such aperture'is closed, removable yexterioractuating means, an additional passage member in communication with said'irst mentioned passage member adapted for iluid flow,

' contents of a tank containing liquid and which valve means therefor, and .means for gauging or sampling -the contents of said tank, operable through said passage member and tank aperture.

5. In a removable valve assembly for tanks and the like, a passage member and means forh removably sealing it in relation to a tank opening, including a tting associated with said opening and adapted selectively to receive said passagemember or to receive a closure, additional valve means for said'tank-opening, externally-extending'means removably positioned within said passage member foractuating said valve means when saidpassag'e member is in position, an additional passage member in communication with said iirst passage member and adapted for the ow' of iiuids and valve means therefor,` and gauging and sampling means mounted on said passage member and adapted for insertion through said passage member and tank opening into said tank. 6. In a testing apparatus, a thermometer. a partially open hollow member'surrounding said thermometerf a dipperlike 'portion formed within said hollowmember, said thermometer being located partially within said dipper-like portion, a hollow casing adapted to be' secured to a container member,A a transparent wall portion for said casing, and a carrier for said thermometer extending into and adapted .to be moved throughy said casing.

7. In la.` testing apparatus, a thermometer, a partially open hollow member surrounding said I 1 thermometer, a dipper-likeportion formed within said hollow member, said thermometer being located partially within said dipper-like portion, -a hollow casing adapted to be secured to a container member, a transparent wall portion for said casing, a carrier for said thermometer extending into and adapted to be moved through said casing, sealing means on the outer end of `'said casing about said carrier member prevent- Sing the escape of material from said casing, :and

contacting said carrier member to permit its reciprocation and rotationV with respect' to Isaid casing, said carrier member being hollow.

8. In a testing apparatus for testing the temperature of tanks andthe like, a thermometer, a reenforcing enclosure member surrounding and in contact with lsaid thermometer, said en- 4- closure member partially cut away to reveal said thermometer, a second enclosure member for the thermometer surrounding` it and the rst enclosure member, said second enclosure member being partially cut away to reveal the thermometer and comprising, also, a dipper portion surrounding a part oi said thermometer. and a carrier member for said thermometer and for said enclosures, the thermometer and enclosures being removably securedto rsaid carrier member.

9.' Th method of gauging the contents o! a tank and testing its temperature. which includes `removably positioning a housing adjacent an opening in said tank while said opening is closed by a closure, temporarily ilxing said housing in relation to said tank and in sealed relation to said opening, removing said closure through said `housing and putting the interior lof said tank thereafter into communication with the interior of said housing, and thereafter gaugingfthe contents of said tank and testingl its temperature through said housing while maintaining said housing closed` to the atmosphere.

10. The method of gauging and testing the is provided with a hollow housing having a transparent wall and means for cutting off the VVinterior of the housing from the interior of the Y tank, which includes the following steps: in-

11. The method of testing the temperature of the' contents of a tank or the like, which includes the steps of passing a thermometer into the contents of the tank while retaining the tank closed to the air, withdrawing the thermometer and a body of the contents of the tank in which the thermometer is immersed to a point outside the conines of the tank and there observing the thermometer reading while still maintaining the entire thermometer andthe body ,of material about it separate from the outside air.

12. The method of gauging and testing the temperature of the contents of a tank or the like, which is provided with a hollow housing, having Aa transparent wall portion and valve means for cutting oi the interior of the housing from the tank, which includes the following steps: inserting a gauging member ythrough said housing. and thereby closing. the outer end of said housing to the air, opening said valve, moving said gauging mdember into the tank and into the contents of the tank, moving it into said housing and reading the temperature while the gauging member is retained within the housing and surrounded by some of the liquid from the tank.v

i3. 'Ihe method of gauging and testing the temperature of the contents of a tank or .the like,

which is provided with a hollow housing, having a transparent ,wall portion and valve means for cuttingv ofi the' interior of the housing from the tank, which includes the followingv steps: in-y serting a gauging member and `thermometer,

through said housing, opening said valve, mov.

ing said gauging member and thermometer into 'the tank and into the contents of the tank, re-

taining the gauging member and thermometer in the contents of the tank until that portion whichis submerged in the contentsA is brought to the same temperature as the contents of said tank, thereafter raising the thermometer with a body of the contents oi the tank retained about it, moving it into said housing and reading the temperature while the gauging member is retainedv within the housing and surrounded by some of the liquid from the tank, and subject to the pressure and temperature conditions prevailing 4within the tank.

' 14. 'I 'he method of gauging and testing the temperature of the contents ot a tank or the like, which is provided with a hollow housing, having a transparent wall portion and valve means for cutting oir the interior of the housing from the tank, which includes the following steps: inserting aj gauging member and thermometer through said housing and thereby closing the outer end of saidhousing tothe air, opening said valve, moving said gauging member and thermometer into the tank and into the contents of the tank, retaining the thermometer in the e contents of the tank' unti1 that portion which is submerged in the contents is brought to the same temperature as the contents of said tank, there- I after raising theY thermometer with the body bi the contents of the tank retained about it, moving it into said housing and reading the tem-v .perature while the gauging member is retained within the housing and surrounded by some of the liquid from the tank.l

A15.` In a removable valve assembly for tanks and the like, 4a passage member and means for removably sealing it in'relation to a tank openingincludlng a tting associated with said opening and adapted selectively to receive said pas- .Y valve means for said tank opening, externally sage member or to receive a closure, additional extending means removably positioned within said passage member for actuating said valve meanswhen said passage member is in position, an additional passage member in communication with said first passage member and adapted for the iow of iuids and valve means therefor, and

a gauging and sampling tube mounted `on said passage member with one end of said tube adapt# ed `for insertion through said passage member and tank opening into said tank and the other `end of said tube extending-ekterior1y .of said 

